By Clement Wangira in Masaka.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had devastating impact on the livelihoods with overall productivity being affected in both formal and informal sector as businesses continued to close with several workers losing jobs.
Trade Union leaders are now urging government to start thinking on how to recover and rebuild the economy as action taken now will have long-lasting effects on people’s wellbeing and resilience of the workers.
Workers Member of Parliament Hon. Dr. Abdulhu Byakatonda said COVID-19 has had implications on all workers and government now needs to start thinking on how to recover and rebuilding the economy with long – term programmes.
He said he is committed to championing economic independence in the labour fraternity by mobilizing workers to join initiatives on social economic empowerment and autonomy of the workers amidst covid19 pandemic.
The Legislator was addressing Trade Union leaders affiliated to the National Organization of Trade Unions (NOTU) who attended a leadership training under the theme “Social Dialogue Mechanisms Amidst covid19 pandemic” at Maria Flo Hotel, Masaka.
He advised workers to form cooperative societies in trade Union since thety are powerful economic and social force in driving most sectors of the economy.
The Workers MP said cooperative enterprises have proven ability to create and sustain jobs and have great potential for advancing decent work through empowerment of the informal economy by creating economies of scale, collective voice and negotiation machinery .
He said Cooperatives have the potential to create not only quality jobs but also a space for people to pull their resources and skills to create sustainability and economic opportunities”.
The legislator who was a special guest at NOTU retreat, said they already have an initiative where registered cooperatives at trade Union level are supported with a startup capital of Ushs 2 million.
Hon Byakatonda popularly known as the ” Anchorman” said leadership is about building and keeping teams focused and committed on achieving common goals within a specific time framework.
Workers Member of Parliament Charles Bakkabulindi encouraged workers’ leaders to reclaim their voices, break the silence and speak out on all forms of abuses leading to mismanagement of the workers savings.
He expressed disappoint on the mismanagement of the workers savings that is being used to fund Uganda Retirement Benefits Regulatory Authority (URBRA), yet the regulatory Authority is supposed to be supported under consolidated Fund.
The legislatore reaffirmed his continued readiness to support the trade union leaders and their unions with the support they deserve in ensuring proper accountability of workers savings by the institutions responsible.
” I shall continue to empower trade union leaders and to build capacity of Labour unions in the fields of training and recruitment,” he said.”
National Organizations of Trade Unions (NOTU) Chairman General Mr Usher Wilson Owere told the Workers Eye that NOTU top leaders national Social Dialogue Mechanisms on covid19 was to enable union leaders come up with stakeholders’ position paper.
He said: “ We came up with a position paper that will guide and streamline working relationship between trade Unions, government and employers.”
The NOTU Secretary General Hon. Christopher Peter Werikhe said the training was to enable trade union leaders continuous engagement to protect workers’ jobs.
He said:” The training will help in social protection to workers through increased consultation and information sharing amongst stakeholders amidst covid-19 pandemic”
Meanwhile NOTU conducted Training of Trainers workshop November 8 – 11, 2021 at Maria Flo, Masaka presided over by NOTU Chairman General Mr Usher Wilson Owere■
